Agitator



March 22, 1932.

F. L. BRYANT AGITATOR Filed May 16. 1930 Zzzzrerz for Patented 7 Mar. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics FRANK I BRYANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

CELLUI'OAM CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE V aerra'ron Application as May 16, The agitator of this invention is designed primarily for the purpose of agitating a mixm mixing and agitation of the ingredients is required, and in which it is desirable to secure suchv results without unduly disintegrating the fibres or other materials sub-' jected to agitation.

The agitator is in the form of one or more propellers having blades disposed in a peculiar and distinctive manner, and in such a way as to impart vortical movement to the mass in conjunctionwith an outward or centrifugal action combined with a surging effect which is occasioned by the decentered position of the agitator within the tank or receptacle.

Further objects and details will appear from a description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

wherein,-.-

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a tank showing the agitator of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the agitating propellers; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevations taken respectively on lines 3-3 and 44 of Fig. 2. The agitator of the present invention is housed within a cylindrical tank '10, and the propellers 11, of which two are shown, are mounted upon a vertical shaft 12 which is decentered with respect to the axis of the tank, being nearer to one side wall than to the other. As shoivn, the shaft'12 isoperated from a motor 13 which drives a pulley 14 connected with the shaft.

Each of the pr'opellers in the form shown comprises a huh' 15 which is fixedly'mounted upon the shaft by the use of-a set screw 16. As'shown, the. inner portion 17 of the propeller adjacent the hub is plane or fiat and of, square formation, and from each of the four. edges springs a propeller blade 18 in heart-shaped formation,

1930. Serial in. 452,901. I

the case of a four-bladed propeller, although the number of blades might be increased or diminished, in which case obviously the configuration of the flat center portion of the propeller would be varied accordingly to present a triangular or polygonal figure, having a number 0 sides corresponding to the number of blades.

Each of the blades is of substantially semiand stands in obliquely upwardly extending relation to .the

flat center portion l7. The outer "edge 19 of the blade extends outwardly from one of the corners of the flat center portion 17 on a curve of progressively diminishin the rear or tip end of the blade 20 eing extended behind the proximate corner ofthe center portion- 17, and each being recurved inwardly and forwardly until it terminates at or near said last mentioned corner. 7

The tip 20, which is of substantially semiradius, I

circular "formation, is turned or flexed downwardly, as best shown in Fig. 4, so that, as the propeller of Fig. 2 revolves in a counterclockwise direction, the rear tip end of the blade will impart a downward thrust to the liquid mixture being subjected to agitatiomj At the same time, the upward oblique rela tion of the body of the blade as a whole will subject the mixture. to an outward or centrifugal thrust, while the leading curved edge of the blade is given a proper curvature at all points to cause the particlesof liquid v under agitation, which impinge'again'st said leading edge, to be deflected outwardly and away from the hub, which is highly desirable where the'propeller is used in the agitation of fibrous mixtures held in suspension in a liquid, which if thrust inwardly by the action of the propeller might tend to clog around the shaft.

With. the propeller or propellers of the character described mounted upon a shaft standing in decentered relation to a cylindrical tank or tub, the action of the propel lers, when rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, will be to cause the mixture of 11 uid'and solid materials to be driven outwar 1y or in a radial direction, and at the same time to be driven downwardly by the downcompounded with a rotating movement turning of the tips of the blades, and this olitward and downward movement will be produces asurging and vertical action which j the particles in the mixture, without,

1s very effective in thoroughly comminglling ever, subjecting the fibres or other materials to disintegrating'action. At the same time, the action is one which isefiective the, formation of bubbles or mi'iiute cells which" distended the mass in the manner fully de-f scribed infPatent No, 1,740,280. a

The invention is one which, although designed primarily to deal with the materials specified'in said patent, can, nevertheless, be used to advantage under other circumstances in which an effectiveagitating action -'of the character specified. is desired. 5 Alt-hough the invention has been described with full detail, it is subject to modification without departing from the principles'im.

volved.. Thus, although the tank or receptacle 10 as shown and described is trul )cylindrica-l, it obviously might have the ulging formation of a vat or barrel, so that in the use of the term cylindrical in the specification and claims, it will be understood that this term is intended to cover receptacles which depart more'or less from truly c lindrical formation. Furthermore, althoug forfcertain purposes it is desirable to'locate the agitator 'oif center in the tank or receptacle, it is not-the intention, unless so indicated in the claims, to limit the invention in this respect, since" for. certain purposes a centrally located agitator will subserve the agitating function. intended.

1. In agitating apparatus of the character described, the combination of a recepta-. cle for mixtures to be subjected to agitation, a shaftextending into said receptacle, and a propeller on said shaft consisting of-a flat center portion and a plurality of blades extending radially upwardly in oblique relation to said 'center portion and outwardly therefrom, the tip of eachblade extending backward beyond the line" of attachment thereof to saidcenter ortion, and the tip 2 at the end of the circum erential extent of the blade being downturned and having its edges recurved forwardly toward said center portion.- 2. In agitating apparatus of the character described, the combinationof a receptacle for mixtures to be subjected toagitation, a-

' ing straight intersecting edges, anda blades Leno,

relation thereto, and havin outwardly extendin from each edge and standing in oblique y upwardly extending the tip of the blade extended rearwardly eyond the side of the center portion to which the blade is attached. t i

'3. In agitating apparatus of the character described, the combination of a receptacle'for mixtures to be subjected to agitation, a shaft extending into said receptacle, and a pro-i .peller on said shaft consisting of a flat .cen-

ter ortion of polygonal formation having straight intersecting edges, and a blade outwardly extending. from each edge and standing" in obliquely upwardly'extending relation thereto, and having the ti of the blade extended rearwardly beyond the side of the center portion to which the blade'is attached,-

each blade ti being downwardly curved and having its e ge recurved and extending forwhrdly to su stantially the rear end of the side to which the blade is attached.

A. In agitating apparatus of the charac ter described, the combination of'a cylindrical receptacle for mixtures to be subjected to agitation, a shaft extending vertically into saidcylindrical receptacle and in decentered relation thereto, and a propeller on said shaft, consisting of a flat center portion of poly onal formation having straight intersecting edges, and a blade outwardl extending from each edge and standing in obliquely upwardly extending relation thereto, and having the tip of the blade extended rearwardly beyond.

the side of the center portion to which the blade is attached. 1 1 ..5. In agitating apparatus of the charac-' ter described, the combination of a cylindrical receptacle for mixtures to be subjected to tip of the blade extended rearwardlybeyond the side of the center portion to which the blade is atached, each blade tip being downwardly curved and having its edge recurved and extend-ing forwardly to substantially the rear endtof the side 'towhich the blade is attached. 3 y .In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed 'my'name this 13th day of May, 1930.v FRANK 'L. BRYANT. 

